1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196R Formula 1 Car Sold for 29.6 Million Dollars

Most valuable car ever sold at auction breaks previous 13 million dollar record

1.31 million dollars was the record for the most valuable vehicle (a Ferrari) sold at auction as of 2011.
But after a recent auction sale, a new staggering record has been set thanks to one 1954 Mercedes-Benz
W 196R Formula 1 car. And not only did the sale beat the previous record for most valuable car ever
sold at auction, it also made new records for most valuable Formula 1 car ever sold in addition to the
most valuable Mercedes-Benz ever sold. The price tag? An incredible $29.6 million.

If you are familiar with Formula 1, you may have a pretty good idea of who once was behind the wheel
of this incredibly valuable car: the five-time world champion winner Juan Manuel Fangio, who achieved
his second title in the W 196R.

1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R specs:

2.5 liter

Straight-8 W 196

Chassis number 00006/54

The reason for the 2.5 liter size of the engine is that in 1954, the FIA (governing body of international
motor sport) set into place the first regulations requiring that engines not be larger than 2.5 liters. But
Fangio had a request of his own. While the wheels on the W 196 were enclosed, this proved to be
difficult for certain race venues such as twisty roads. Fangio requested an open-wheeled version of the
W 196 following the British GP at Silverstone, especially for the twisty 14.2 mile Nurburgring circuit. And
following that request Mercedes provided the open-wheeled version, which Fangio took victory in.
Following, was the victory at the Swiss GP, which made his second World Championship a sure thing.

The car made its debut in 1954 at the French Grand Prix at Reims-Gueux, after missing both the
Argentina and Belgium GPs. But missing those two races didn’t matter, because both Fangio and
teammate Karl Kling qualified and finished the race in first and second place.

This car not only helped Fangio win races, it also helped to introduce technologies to Formula 1, such as:

“I have handled some of the world’s most desirable and important motor cars during a motoring auction
career spanning five decades, but I have reached a peak today with this legendary Grand Prix car. It was
a personal privilege to preside over the sale of this vehicle, which is not only one of the most significant
motor cars of the 20th century, but also the most important historic Grand Prix racing car ever offered
for sale,” said Robert Brooks, Bonhams Chairman.

“If he were here today Fangio would shake his head and smile his slow smile. He was a humble man,
originally a mechanic from a potato town in Argentina – and he never forgot his roots. As a driver, he
was simply a genius. As a man he had no enemies. He was universally loved, even by those he regularly
beat on track. No standard-setting sportsman could have a better epitaph,” said Doug Nye, racing
historian.